Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them to the Police Division. Neighborhoods patrolled include Columbus Commons, Scioto Mile, North Bank Park, Weinland Park, Linden, the Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood, The Ohio State University district and the Metro Parks Greenway trails along the Olentangy River, as well as the Alum Creek Trail. The duration of this agreement will be March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013. The Community Crime Patrol is funded by the City of Columbus, The Ohio State University and the United Way of Central Ohio.
This legislation also authorizes City Auditor to transfer $150,000.00 within the General Fund, Safety Director's Office, from Transfers to Contractual Services to properly align appropriations with projected expenditure.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is presented as an emergency to ensure that the community crime patrol program continues without interruption. The current contract expired at the end of February 2012.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the Safety Director to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol for a total of $763,000.00 for the patrol of selected neighborhoods in Columbus. Columbus City Council's amendment to the 2012 operating budget added $313,000.00 to the annual crime patrol budget of $300,000.00 in order to include Weinland Park and the Linden area to the patrol zones. In addition, a transfer of $150,000.00 from Safety's Transfer budget will ensure that patrol coverage is provided to the Downtown area. The Community Crime Patrol was funded at $278,000 in 2010 and at $358,000 in 2011 for patrol activities including the downtown area.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to provide citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the control and prevention of crime in the Downtown, Weinland Park, Linden, Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood and Ohio State University areas, as well as the Metro Parks Greenway Trails along the Olentangy River and Alum Creek, to authorize and direct the transfer of $150,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $763,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($763,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council amended the 2012 operating budget to include $313,000.00 to contract with Community Crime Patrol for the patrol of Weinland Park and the Linden area; and
WHEREAS, Funds were also included in Public Safety's General Funds to contract with the Community Crime Patrol for the control and prevention of crime in the Columbus Commons, Scioto Mile, the North Bank Park, Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood and Ohio State University areas, as well as the Metro Parks Greenway Trails along the Olentangy River and Alum Creek.; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Public Safety now desires to enter into contract with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the provision of citizen patrollers, who assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to ensure the continuation of the program without interruption, for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer funds within the General Funds, Department of Public Safety, Safety Director's Office, as follows;
FROM: Fund 010|Division 3001|OCA Code 300111|Object Level One 10|Object Level Three 5501|Amount $150,000.00
TO: Fund 010| Division 3001|OCA Code 300111|Object Level One 03|Object Level Three 3337|Amount $150,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the purpose of providing citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the identification and reporting of suspicious activity. The contract period will be March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $763,000.00 or so much thereof as necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended as follows:
Dept/Div 3001|Fund 010|Object Level One 03|Object Level Three 3337|OCA Code 300111|Amount $763,000.00
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.